Her CEO Stalker and Her Second Chance Mate (Adelaide) novel Chapter 157

I couldn’t stand to go home to a house without Briar so I stayed late catching up on

everything I had put off while I was so caught up with Briar. Piles of reports, petty occurrences in the pack and tomorrow I’d be back on my same mundane boring rounds and I’d still be just

as miserable as I was now. My stomach gurgled pining for food. I could just go home and feed

myself. There were plenty groceries but I didn’t have it in me and the diner was still open. I

hadn’t been in a while and I knew my sister would have something to say about that. Maybe

she would even have some words of wisdom for my situation. I needed someone to confide in.

The diner was mostly empty when I strode in. My sister’s eyes widened with surprise when she

saw me and she rushed over to wrap me in a hug. Though she pushed warmth within me all I

could feel was the emptiness that Brair’s absence had caused.

“What finally brings you in here?” she asked steering me to my booth. As I sat, only ghosted

memories of Briar sitting across from me filled my mind, making me just that more aware of

the bleak chasm that resided between us.

“I’ll take a Jake’s special,” I said, unable to hide the grief in my voice. Her face faltered and

she paused. I barely registered her voice as she called the order in to the cook. She bristled

away to the lone waitress on duty and whispered with her a moment before she took Briar’s

place opposite me.

“What’s going on little brother? You avoid me for weeks only to show up looking like a kicked

pup?”

“Briar moved out,” I said dejectedly. Something ghosted over her face before she took my hand

in hers. She bit her lip.

“So Briar wasn’t just an assignment to you?” she asked.

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Something niggled at me not to spread the word of what Briar was to me, that the way she

said that meant she was up to something. So I shrugged.

“I liked her company,” I decided to be safe, I didn’t know why my instincts chose to be wary

around my sister about my mate all of a sudden.

“Playing house drove too close to home?” she asked.

“It’s not that,” I insisted.

A ghost of emotion flitted over her features and she bit her lip. Kenna set my order in front of

me and I went straight to Briar’s favorite; the poutine. The taste was wrong, I could only

describe it as loneliness disguised as sustenance. I pushed the food around on my plate.

“There’s someone out there for you Carter, it’s time you stopped chasing tail and settle down.”

I narrowed my eyes at her.

“I never chased Briar’s tail, and I know exactly who is out there for me” I insisted letting her

sit with that, before attempting to swallow another bite.

“Sure you didn’t, I get it, she’s gorgeous and sweet even but she’s not one of us. I think you

got caught up in being her protector, it spoke to your wolf. Whatever her story was before she

came here, you’re not obligated to be her savior.”

My fork stopped halfway to my mouth as I stared at her.

“You don’t know anything about her so how about you stop assuming you know the narrative

going on between us.” My words were harsh and cold. But I wouldn’t let even my own sister

try to belittle Briar’s ordeal or what she meant to me. Her face fell, surprise and confusion

flooded her features.

“I see this is a touchy subject.”

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